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MDHTALK Metal Detecting Tip

Headphone Selection

Tool Tip: Headphone Selection
Contributor: Lee Wiese

Tip: The first specification one needs to know in preparing to select a set of headphones is the output impedance of the detector's audio amplifier. If the
detector is a multi-tone detector (a different tone for each target) the output impedance may be in the range of 32 to 36 ohm. If the detector
only outputs a single tone for all targets it probably has 8 ohms impedance. Most multi-tone detectors require a frequency response from the headphones
of 100 to 3,400 hertz. This means that the headphone response should have an equal output for all frequencies from the
very lowest to the highest. Metal detectors do not require high end home stereo headphones since most detectors only operate in the 100 to 3,400
hertz frequency range or lower.

Never purchase a set of headphones below the manufacturer's audio amplifier specification. If you purchase a set of headphones over the manufacture's
specifications never go greater than 4 to 5 times higher in headphone impedance (OHMS). If the headphones impedance is less than the detector's audio
amplifier impedance damage to the detector's electronics may occur. The lower impedance may over time place stress on the detector's electronics potentially causing the electronics
to fail plus more operational battery power will also be consumed. The ideal set of headphones should be: